Preserve the Sandhills v. Cherry County , 310 Neb. 184 ( 2021 )


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    10/01/2021 09:09 AM CDT
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    Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
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    PRESERVE THE SANDHILLS v. CHERRY COUNTY
    Cite as 
    310 Neb. 184
    Preserve the Sandhills, LLC, et al., appellants
    and cross-appellees, v. Cherry County,
    Nebraska, et al., appellees, and BSH
    Kilgore, LLC, and Bluestem
    Sandhills, LLC, appellees
    and cross-appellants.
    ___ N.W.2d ___
    Filed September 24, 2021.   No. S-20-726.
    1. Jurisdiction: Appeal and Error. A jurisdictional question that does not
    involve a factual dispute is determined by an appellate court as a matter
    of law, which requires the appellate court to reach a conclusion indepen-
    dent of the lower court’s decision.
    2. Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory interpretation is a question of
    law, which an appellate court resolves independently of the trial court.
    3. Jurisdiction: Appeal and Error. Before reaching the legal issues
    presented for review, it is the duty of an appellate court to determine
    whether it has jurisdiction over the matter before it.
    4. ____: ____. Where a lower court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to
    adjudicate the merits of a claim, issue, or question, an appellate court
    also lacks the power to determine the merits of the claim, issue, or ques-
    tion presented to the lower court.
    5. Statutes: Appeal and Error. The right of appeal in this state is purely
    statutory; unless a statute provides for an appeal from the decision of a
    quasi-judicial tribunal, such right does not exist.
    6. ____: ____. Statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary
    meaning, and an appellate court will not resort to interpretation to
    ascertain the meaning of statutory words which are plain, direct, and
    unambiguous.
    7. Statutes: Legislature: Intent. In construing a statute, a court must
    determine and give effect to the purpose and intent of the Legislature
    as ascertained from the entire language of the statute considered in its
    plain, ordinary, and popular sense.
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    PRESERVE THE SANDHILLS v. CHERRY COUNTY
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    310 Neb. 184
    8. Statutes. It is not within the province of the courts to read a meaning
    into a statute that is not there or to read anything direct and plain out of
    a statute.
    9. Statutes: Legislature: Intent: Appeal and Error. An appellate court
    can examine an act’s legislative history if a statute is ambiguous or
    requires interpretation.
    10. Governmental Subdivisions: Counties: Statutes: Words and Phrases:
    Appeal and Error. The plain meaning of the term “decision” in 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-114.01
    (5) (Reissue 2012), in the context of the entire
    statute, is a decision to grant, deny, or partially grant and partially deny
    a conditional use permit.
    11. Governmental Subdivisions: Counties: Appeal and Error. On appeal,
    a court may look through form to substance to determine whether a
    county board granted, denied, or partially granted and partially denied a
    conditional use permit.
    12. Appeal and Error. A lower court cannot commit error in resolving an
    issue never presented and submitted to it for disposition.
    13. ____. An appellate court is not obligated to engage in an analysis that is
    not necessary to adjudicate the case and controversy before it.
    Appeal from the District Court for Cherry County: Mark D.
    Kozisek, Judge. Appeal dismissed.
    Jason M. Bruno, Diana J. Vogt, Robert S. Sherrets, and
    Thomas G. Schumacher, of Sherrets, Bruno & Vogt, L.L.C.,
    for appellants.
    Eric A. Scott, Cherry County Attorney, and David S.
    Houghton and Justin D. Eichmann, of Houghton, Bradford &
    Whitted, P.C., L.L.O., for appellees Cherry County and Cherry
    County Board of Commissioners.
    Steven G. Ranum and Richard A. DeWitt, of Croker, Huck,
    Kasher, DeWitt, Anderson & Gonderinger, L.L.C., for appellee
    Cherry County Wind, L.L.C.
    Steven D. Davidson and Spencer R. Murphy, of Baird
    Holm, L.L.P., for appellees BSH Kilgore, L.L.C., and Bluestem
    Sandhills, L.L.C.
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    PRESERVE THE SANDHILLS v. CHERRY COUNTY
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    310 Neb. 184
    Heavican, C.J., Cassel, Stacy, Funke, Papik, and
    Freudenberg, JJ., and Weimer, District Judge.
    Cassel, J.
    I. INTRODUCTION
    After the opponents of a wind turbine project appealed a
    county board’s grant of a conditional use permit (CUP) and
    while the appeal was pending, a proponent sought and obtained
    from the board an extension of time to complete the project.
    The opponents then attempted to appeal from the extension.
    The district court dismissed the second appeal for lack of
    jurisdiction. The opponents appeal that dismissal, contending
    that 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-114.01
     (Reissue 2012) confers a right
    of appeal from any action regarding a CUP, no matter how
    incidental or preliminary. Because it does not, we lack jurisdic-
    tion and dismiss their appeal and do not reach a proponent’s
    cross-appeal.
    II. BACKGROUND
    In 2019, the Cherry County Board of Commissioners (the
    Board) granted BSH Kilgore, LLC (BSH), a CUP for the
    development of a commercial wind turbine operation in Cherry
    County, Nebraska. Less than a year later and while an appeal
    from the Board’s action granting the CUP was pending in the
    district court, the Board granted BSH a 4-year extension to
    build the operation.
    Preserve the Sandhills, LLC, and a number of individual
    Cherry County citizens opposing the project (collectively PTS)
    filed a “Complaint and Petition on Appeal” in the district court,
    challenging the Board’s action granting BSH’s extension. In
    addition to Cherry County, the Board, and BSH, the complaint
    named Cherry County Wind, LLC, and Bluestem Sandhills,
    LLC (Bluestem), as defendants. According to the complaint,
    Cherry County Wind and Bluestem were “involved in the
    applications to the Board for the CUP.”
    In the complaint, PTS asked for a trial de novo pursuant to
    § 23-114.01 and 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1937
     (Reissue 2016),
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    PRESERVE THE SANDHILLS v. CHERRY COUNTY
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    a statute which provides an appeal procedure applicable where
    a statute confers a right of appeal without specifying a proce-
    dure. PTS never filed a petition in error in the district court
    or requested that the court convert its appeal into a petition
    in error.
    Cherry County Wind filed a motion to dismiss for lack of
    standing and failure to state a claim, and it asserted that it was
    improperly joined. BSH and Bluestem filed a similar motion.
    This was followed by a motion to dismiss filed by Cherry
    County and the Board.
    After holding a telephonic hearing regarding the motions
    and soliciting the parties’ briefs on the issue of jurisdiction,
    the court dismissed PTS’ appeal on the basis that it lacked
    jurisdiction. The court found that an appeal for a trial de novo
    in that court is limited to the grant or denial of a CUP and that
    any other decisions regarding a CUP are subject to review only
    through petition in error.
    The court explained that ruling otherwise would allow every
    tangential decision, such as continuations of hearings, limita-
    tions on the number of persons testifying, and limits on the
    time and scope of testimony, to be afforded de novo review.
    The court emphasized that it was not making a finding that the
    grant of an extension of the CUP was a final order but only that
    an appeal under § 25-1937 was strictly limited to orders grant-
    ing or denying a CUP.
    PTS filed a timely appeal. BSH and Bluestem filed a cross-
    appeal. Although the extent of Bluestem’s participation in the
    cross-appeal is not entirely clear, we need not resolve the ambi-
    guity. We moved the case to our docket. 1 We later ordered the
    parties to file supplemental briefs, which we have considered,
    regarding two aspects of jurisdiction.
    III. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
    PTS’ appeal assigns that the district court erred in (1) con-
    cluding that “PTS was not entitled to a de novo review of
    1
    See 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-1106
    (3) (Cum. Supp. 2020).
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    PRESERVE THE SANDHILLS v. CHERRY COUNTY
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    the county board’s decision to extend the time to perform a
    conditional use” and (2) dismissing the case “because it did
    not agree that the standard of review requested by PTS was
    appropriate.”
    The cross-appeal assigns that the district court erred in fail-
    ing to dismiss PTS’ appeal “for the separate and independent
    reason that [PTS] failed to state a plausible claim upon which
    relief can be granted.”
    IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
    [1] A jurisdictional question that does not involve a factual
    dispute is determined by an appellate court as a matter of law,
    which requires the appellate court to reach a conclusion inde-
    pendent of the lower court’s decision. 2
    [2] Statutory interpretation is a question of law, which an
    appellate court resolves independently of the trial court. 3
    V. ANALYSIS
    1. Appeal
    (a) Jurisdiction
    [3-5] Before reaching the legal issues presented for review,
    it is the duty of an appellate court to determine whether it has
    jurisdiction over the matter before it. 4 Where a lower court
    lacks subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of
    a claim, issue, or question, an appellate court also lacks the
    power to determine the merits of the claim, issue, or question
    presented to the lower court. 5 The right of appeal in this state
    is purely statutory; unless a statute provides for an appeal
    from the decision of a quasi-judicial tribunal, such right does
    not exist. 6
    2
    Champion v. Hall County, 
    309 Neb. 55
    , 
    958 N.W.2d 396
     (2021).
    3
    In re Adoption of Yasmin S., 
    308 Neb. 771
    , 
    956 N.W.2d 704
     (2021).
    4
    Butler Cty. Landfill v. Butler Cty. Bd. of Supervisors, 
    299 Neb. 422
    , 
    908 N.W.2d 661
     (2018).
    5
    
    Id.
    6
    Champion v. Hall County, supra note 2.
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    PRESERVE THE SANDHILLS v. CHERRY COUNTY
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    Relying upon the third sentence of § 23-114.01(5), PTS
    argues that the Legislature has conferred a right to appeal
    “a decision by the . . . county board of commissioners . . .
    regarding a [CUP]” to the district court. PTS contends that the
    Board’s extension constitutes an appealable “decision” under
    § 23-114.01. Further, it argues, § 25-1937 allows for a party
    appealing under § 23-114.01(5) to receive a trial de novo in the
    district court. 7
    BSH and Bluestem argue that the plain language of the
    statute does not extend its subject matter beyond granting or
    denying a CUP. It follows, they argue, that the corresponding
    appeal right provided in the statute is of equal scope. Cherry
    County, the Board, and Cherry County Wind make similar
    arguments.
    Thus, to decide whether we have jurisdiction of this appeal,
    we must determine whether, under the circumstances pre-
    sented here, the extension qualified as a “decision” under
    § 23-114.01(5). This requires statutory interpretation.
    [6-9] Rules regarding statutory interpretation are well
    known. 8 Statutory language is to be given its plain and ordi-
    nary meaning, and an appellate court will not resort to inter-
    pretation to ascertain the meaning of statutory words which are
    plain, direct, and unambiguous. 9 In construing a statute, a court
    must determine and give effect to the purpose and intent of
    the Legislature as ascertained from the entire language of the
    statute considered in its plain, ordinary, and popular sense. 10
    It is not within the province of the courts to read a meaning
    into a statute that is not there or to read anything direct and
    plain out of a statute. 11 An appellate court can examine an
    act’s ­legislative history if a statute is ambiguous or requires
    7
    See In re Application of Olmer, 
    275 Neb. 852
    , 
    752 N.W.2d 124
     (2008).
    8
    In re Adoption of Yasmin S., supra note 3.
    9
    Id.
    10
    Id.
    11
    Id.
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    PRESERVE THE SANDHILLS v. CHERRY COUNTY
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    interpretation. 12 With these principles in mind, we turn to
    the language of § 23-114.01(5), viewed in the context of the
    entire statute.
    We now quote § 23-114.01 at length, striving to retain the
    meaning of the entire statute without losing sight of the most
    pertinent parts. We have italicized key language for emphasis.
    Section 23-114.01 provides:
    (1) In order to avail itself of the powers conferred by
    section 23-114, the county board shall appoint a plan-
    ning commission to be known as the county planning
    commission. [Membership requirements, terms of office,
    removal of members, filling vacancies, and compensa-
    tion provisions.]
    (2) [Duties of commission and requirement of receipt
    of commission recommendations before certain county
    board actions.]
    (3) [Powers conferred upon planning commissions.]
    (4) In all counties in the state, the county planning
    commission may grant conditional uses . . . to property
    owners for the use of their property if the county board of
    commissioners . . . has officially and generally authorized
    the commission to exercise such powers and has approved
    the standards and procedures the commission adopted for
    equitably and judiciously granting such conditional uses
    . . . . The granting of a [CUP is limited to uses identified
    in county zoning regulations].
    (5) The power to grant conditional uses . . . as set forth
    in subsection (4) of this section shall be the exclusive
    authority of the commission, except that the county board
    of commissioners . . . may choose to retain for itself the
    power to grant conditional uses . . . for those classifica-
    tions of uses specified in the county zoning regulations.
    The county board of commissioners . . . may exercise
    such power if it has formally adopted standards and
    12
    State v. McColery, 
    301 Neb. 516
    , 
    919 N.W.2d 153
     (2018).
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    procedures for granting such conditional uses . . . in a
    manner that is equitable and which will promote the pub-
    lic interest. In any county other than a county in which is
    located a city of the primary class, an appeal of a deci-
    sion by the county planning commission or county board
    of commissioners . . . regarding a conditional use . . .
    shall be made to the district court. [Appeal specified for
    county in which is located a city of the primary class.]
    (6) Whenever a . . . county board is authorized to grant
    conditional uses . . . pursuant to subsection . . . (5) of this
    section, the . . . county board shall, with its decision to
    grant or deny a [CUP], issue a statement of factual find-
    ings arising from the record of proceedings that support
    the granting or denial of the [CUP]. If a county plan-
    ning commission’s role is advisory to the county board,
    the county planning commission shall submit such state-
    ment with its recommendation to the county board as to
    whether to approve or deny a [CUP]. 13
    [10] The plain meaning of the term “decision” in
    § 23-114.01(5), in the context of the entire statute, is a deci-
    sion to grant, deny, or partially grant and partially deny a
    CUP. Section 23-114.01 repeatedly and exclusively discusses
    a county board of commissioners’ decisionmaking powers in
    terms of the grant or denial of a CUP. Section 23-114.01(5)
    begins by authorizing a county board “to retain for itself the
    power to grant conditional uses . . . for those classifications
    of uses specified in the county zoning regulations.” (Emphasis
    supplied.) This authorization is preceded in subsection (4) by
    the specific power conferred upon a planning commission
    to “grant conditional uses.” 14 Subsection (6) imposes on a
    county board, “with its decision to grant or deny a [CUP],”
    the obligation to establish a record for any potential appeals
    by “issu[ing] a statement of factual findings arising from the
    13
    § 23-114.01 (emphasis supplied).
    14
    See § 23-114.01(4) (emphasis supplied).
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    record of proceedings that support the granting or denial of
    the [CUP].” 15
    PTS would have us read the word “decision” in the third
    sentence of subsection (5) in isolation. But that invites us to
    ignore the multiple references to “grant,” “granting,” “deny,”
    and “denial.” We are required to read and construe the entire
    statute, and we decline PTS’ invitation to do otherwise.
    To the extent that any hint of ambiguity remains, it is
    dispelled by the legislative history. The disputed word—
    “decision”—was added to § 23-114.01(5) in 2004. 16 The lan-
    guage was a last-minute amendment to a much larger com-
    prehensive bill focusing on an overhaul of chapter 77 of the
    Nebraska Revised Statutes. 17 The senator who offered the
    amendment explained that the language originated in a separate
    bill—L.B. 1008—that had not yet been brought to the floor for
    a vote. 18
    The committee statement for L.B. 1008 explained that a
    Nebraska Court of Appeals’ decision 19 prompted the bill. 20
    The Court of Appeals had determined that under the then-
    existing statutes, a county board of adjustment was the body
    empowered to decide an appeal from the denial of a CUP by
    a county board of supervisors. 21 The bill, as amended into the
    adopted legislation, expressly removed a board of adjustment’s
    authority to “hear and decide appeals regarding conditional
    use permits . . . which may be granted pursuant to section
    15
    See § 23-114.01(6) (emphasis supplied).
    16
    See 2004 Neb. Laws, L.B. 973, § 3.
    17
    See id.
    18
    Floor Debate, L.B. 973, 98th Leg., 2d Sess. 12302-04 (Mar. 24, 2004).
    19
    See Niewohner v. Antelope Cty. Bd. of Adjustment, 
    12 Neb. App. 132
    , 
    668 N.W.2d 258
     (2003) (superseded by statute as stated in In re Application of
    Olmer, 
    supra note 7
    ).
    20
    See Committee Statement, L.B. 1008, Urban Affairs Committee, 98th
    Leg., 2d Sess. 1-2 (Jan. 20, 2004).
    21
    See Niewohner v. Antelope Cty. Bd. of Adjustment, supra note 19.
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    23-114.01.” 22 This legislative history confirms our understand-
    ing of the term “decision” in § 23-114.01(5).
    [11] We have concluded that the right to appeal conferred
    by § 23-114.01(5) applies only to decisions granting, denying,
    or partially granting and partially denying a CUP. However,
    a county board cannot circumvent an appeal by labeling or
    recasting an action’s form contrary to its substance. On appeal,
    a court may look through form to substance to determine
    whether a county board granted, denied, or partially granted
    and partially denied a CUP. 23
    In the unusual circumstances presented in this appeal, where
    the Board’s earlier decision to grant a CUP was appealed to
    the district court and remained undisposed by that court, the
    Board’s decision to extend the time for performance cannot be
    said to grant or deny a CUP. The extension had no effect upon
    the substance of the use of the real estate—if the appeal now
    pending in the district court overturns the CUP, the use will not
    be permitted; if that appeal upholds the CUP, the use of the real
    estate will not be affected.
    Under these circumstances, the district court lacked jur­
    isdiction of the second appeal. Because that court lacked juris­
    diction, we also lack jurisdiction. 24 We express no opinion
    regarding the power of the Board to grant an extension of a
    CUP while an appeal of its initial decision to grant the CUP
    was pending in the district court.
    (b) Petition in Error
    PTS also assigns that “[i]t was an error for the district court
    to dismiss the case because it did not agree that the standard
    of review requested by PTS was appropriate.” PTS uses this
    22
    See 2004 Neb. Laws, L.B. 973, § 4 (emphasis supplied).
    23
    See, generally, Prigge v. Johns, 
    186 Neb. 761
    , 
    186 N.W.2d 497
     (1971);
    Loskill v. Board of Equalization, 
    186 Neb. 707
    , 
    185 N.W.2d 852
     (1971).
    24
    See Federal Nat. Mortgage Assn. v. Marcuzzo, 
    289 Neb. 301
    , 
    854 N.W.2d 774
     (2014).
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    artful articulation to argue that the court erred by not convert-
    ing its “Complaint and Petition on Appeal,” which sought de
    novo review under §§ 23-114.01 and 25-1937, into a petition
    in error under 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1901
     (Reissue 2016).
    But PTS chose to seek review using §§ 23-114.01 and
    25-1937, and two principles defeat its attempt to “change
    horses” on appeal.
    First, as we explained in In re Application of Olmer, 25 a court
    must respect an appellant’s chosen method of appeal. There,
    we concluded that the district court erred in converting an
    appeal from a denial of a CUP, taken pursuant to §§ 23-114.01
    and 25-1937, into a petition in error. Here, PTS, having made
    the choice of its route using §§ 23-114.01 and 25-1937, must
    live with the consequences that follow.
    [12] Second, a lower court cannot commit error in resolv-
    ing an issue never presented and submitted to it for disposi-
    tion. 26 PTS never filed a petition in error in the district court.
    It never requested the court to treat its complaint as a petition
    in error. Only on appeal to this court does it attempt to make
    this change. Because the district court lacked jurisdiction of
    PTS’ chosen route, we lack jurisdiction to consider whether a
    petition in error was available, and we express no opinion on
    that question.
    We recognize that the provision of § 25-1937 requiring
    a trial de novo in the district court is a historical anomaly.
    Section 25-1937 was first adopted in 1963. 27 Then, as now,
    it specified that “the procedure for appeal to the district court
    shall be the same as for appeals from the county court to the
    district court in civil actions.” 28 At that time, all appeals from
    county court in civil cases were taken to the district court
    25
    In re Application of Olmer, 
    supra note 7
    .
    26
    Friedman v. Friedman, 
    290 Neb. 973
    , 
    863 N.W.2d 153
     (2015).
    27
    See 1963 Neb. Laws, ch. 138, § 1, p. 515.
    28
    See § 25-1937 (Reissue 1964).
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    for a true trial de novo. 29 Thus, at that time, the second sentence
    of § 25-1937 was entirely consistent with appeals from county
    court to district court. Now, as a consequence of changes made
    over the last 40 years, on appeal from the county court in a
    civil case, a district court reviews the case for “error appearing
    on the record made in the county court.” 30 Nevertheless, the
    provision in § 25-1937 for trial de novo continues. Whether it
    should do so is a matter for the Legislature.
    2. Cross-Appeal
    [13] The cross-appeal was conditioned upon this court find-
    ing that it has jurisdiction of the appeal. Because we do not, it
    is unnecessary for us to address the cross-appeal. An appellate
    court is not obligated to engage in an analysis that is not neces-
    sary to adjudicate the case and controversy before it. 31
    VI. CONCLUSION
    We lack jurisdiction to hear this appeal. Therefore, we dis-
    miss it.
    Appeal dismissed.
    Miller-Lerman, J., not participating.
    29
    See, 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 24-544
     (Reissue 1956) (in county courts, appeals
    in civil actions are taken “in the manner as provided by law in cases tried
    and determined by [justice courts]”); 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-1305
     (Reissue
    1956) (in justice courts, appeals “shall proceed, in all respects, in the same
    manner as though the action had been originally instituted” in district
    court); Guaranty Fund Commission v. Teichmeier, 
    119 Neb. 387
    , 
    229 N.W. 121
     (1930) (explaining distinction between appeals from county and
    justice courts to district court and appeals from district court to Nebraska
    Supreme Court).
    30
    See 
    Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2733
     (Reissue 2016).
    31
    Guenther v. Walnut Grove Hillside Condo. Regime No. 3, 
    309 Neb. 655
    ,
    
    961 N.W.2d 825
     (2021).